KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that five men were sentenced in federal court today, in separate and unrelated cases, for illegally possessing firearms or ammunition.

US v. Rickett

Dominic Rickett, 23, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court ordered the federal prison sentence to be served consecutively to Rickett’s state sentence for burglary and resisting arrest. Rickett was sentenced as an armed career offender due to his prior felony convictions.

On March 15, 2012, Rickett pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. He admitted that he was in possession of 15 rounds of Winchester 9mm ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Rickett has two prior felony convictions for burglary and a prior felony conviction for resisting arrest.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

US v. Gant

Raphael Gant, 20, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to seven years in federal prison without parole.

On April 8, 2012, Gant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that he was in possession of a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm handgun, which was discovered under the front passenger seat when police officers searched his vehicle. Police officers also found a bag containing 436 grams of marijuana in the vehicle.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gant has prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Davids. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

US v. Hain

Ricky D. Hain, 35, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 46 months in federal prison without parole. This is Hain’s second federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On April 18, 2012, Hain pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that he was in possession of a loaded Jimenez Arms .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol. A police officer discovered the pistol in Hain’s pocket while he was being arrested on an unrelated outstanding Independence, Mo., warrant.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hain has prior felony convictions for assault, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

US v. Wiggins

Elroy Wiggins, 49, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 42 months in federal prison without parole.

On March 8, 2012, Wiggins pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that he was in possession of a Winchester .30-30 caliber rifle. Police arrested Wiggins after receiving a report that he had fired the rifle into the air outside his apartment.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Wiggins has prior felony convictions for burglary, stealing a motor vehicle, tampering, sodomy, and possessing a controlled substance.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Clark. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

US v. Gray

Terrell Gray, 20, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to 30 months in federal prison without parole. The court ordered the federal prison sentence to be served consecutively to Gray’s unrelated state sentence for robbery.

On April 11, 2012, Gray pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that he was in possession of a Hi-Point 9mm pistol. Gray threw the pistol out of the car he was driving when he saw Kansas City police officers drive by while on patrol.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Gray has a prior felony conviction for robbery.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Barnes. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

Project Ceasefire

Project Ceasefire, launched in October 1999, is a cooperative initiative by federal and local law enforcement and the Kansas City Crime Commission that targets for federal prosecution persons who unlawfully use or possess firearms.

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